Statement by Press Secretary Fitzwater on the President's Discussions With Foreign Ministers of Central European States

The President met today with the Foreign Ministers from Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Slovenia, representing members of the Central European initiative, to discuss the crisis in the Balkans. The Foreign Ministers emphasized their concerns over the direction of events in the former Yugoslavia.

The President expressed deep concern over the violence still wracking Bosnia and highlighted the efforts that the United States has taken, along with the EC and other concerned nations, to help alleviate the suffering of innocents. He recognized the importance of stability to the new democracies of the region, including those represented in the meeting, and encouraged them to work in support of the efforts under the auspices of the United Nations and CSCE to help defuse the crisis and contribute to the search for a political settlement.